Weddle wants to get out of the house

SAN DIEGO -- Eric Weddle recently moved into a house in
Escondido. He's hoping not to see a lot of it next week.

If the Chargers' second-round draft choice is trolling around
the house during the middle and latter part of the week, it means
he's a holdout. The team's rookies are scheduled to report to
training camp on Tuesday, and Weddle, a safety, is one of six
unsigned rookies as the reporting date approaches.

Only fourth-round pick Scott Chandler, a tight end from Iowa,
has signed a deal with the Chargers.

"No one wants to hold out," Weddle said Thursday after a
luncheon at the San Diego Hall of Champions. "I don't want to hold
out, but that's how the business works."

As Weddle spoke, not a single second-round draft pick had
reached a deal with the NFL team that selected him. Later Thursday,
the stalemate was broken as Pittsburgh signed linebacker LaMarr
Woodley and Miami inked center Samson Satele.

Weddle predicts that things will quickly fall into place once
other picks around him start finalizing deals. He was selected 37th
overall, nine picks before Woodley. The only signed players picked
earlier than Weddle are two late first-round picks: San Francisco
offensive tackle Joe Staley at No. 28 and Chicago tight end Greg
Olsen at No. 31.

"Once they start falling and once guys start getting their deals
done, we'll have a barometer," Weddle said. "No one wants to make
that first step. I'll be ready to go whether it's Tuesday or
however long it takes.

"The quicker, the better," he added.

Chargers' rookies are scheduled to practice for the first time
on Wednesday. Veterans report on July 27, and the first full-squad
training camp practice is the following day.

First-round pick Craig Davis also remains unsigned, but general
manager A.J. Smith said he's optimistic that everyone will be
signed by Tuesday's reporting date.

"The goal is to have everybody done on time," Smith said. "If
they're not there, they'll get there whenever they decide to get
there."

An agreement with Davis, a receiver from LSU, could quickly come
together since Staley (selected two picks earlier) signed a
five-year deal worth a reported $8 million and Olsen (chosen one
pick after Davis) signed for approximately $7.7 million over five
years.

On the other hand, receivers Robert Meachem (No. 27 by New
Orleans) and Anthony Gonzalez (No. 32 by Indianapolis) are
unsigned, and their negotiations could affect what Davis
receives.

"We're going to offer contracts to our likings, and I'd like to
have everybody there the first day," Smith said. "If they're not
there the first day, then there's probably an issue on their part,
and they'll express that and then we'll express it.

"Then whenever they decide to come in, they'll come in."

In his case, Weddle is hoping that day comes early next week.
The former Utah standout was selected after the Chargers shipped
three draft picks to Chicago to swap draft positions with the Bears
and move up 23 spots. Smith was convinced then -- and reiterated
Thursday -- that Weddle wouldn't have remained on the board if the
team had stayed at the bottom of the second round.

"I'm really excited," Weddle said. "I'll continue to run and
work out to be in top shape and ready to compete in training camp.
I want to try and help and contribute any way possible for this
team."